Hydrangea plant named ‘Blue Heaven’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  named ‘Blue Heaven’ that is characterized by its very early spring blooming habit, its ability to re-bloom on new growth after deadheading, its consistently well formed, large sized inflorescences that are red-purple in color (bluer in color depending with alkaline pH and sufficient aluminum levels), its strong flower stems, and its durable thick foliage.

Genus/species: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘Blue Heaven’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Blue Heaven’. ‘Blue Heaven’ represents a new Bigleaf Hydrangea, adeciduous shrub grown for landscape use and for use as a potted plant.

‘Blue Heaven’ arose as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation inJune 2001 in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. ‘Blue Heaven’ was selected as asingle unique plant from amongst 250 seedlings that were derived fromsown in 1999 from numerous open pollinated cultivars of Hydrangeamacrophylla. The seeds collected from open pollination were combinedinto one seed lot, therefore the parentage of ‘Blue Heaven’ is unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished bysoftwood stem cuttings in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in February 2002 bythe inventor. The characteristics of this cultivar have been determinedto be stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Blue Heaven’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla.

-   -   1. ‘Blue Heaven’ is a very early spring bloomer and removal of        spent blooms results in repeat bloom from early April to October        in The Netherlands.    -   2. ‘Blue Heaven’ has consistently well formed, large sized        inflorescences that are red-purple in color but typical of        Hydrangea macrophylla, are bluer in color depending with        alkaline pH and sufficient aluminum levels.    -   3. ‘Blue Heaven’ exhibits foliage that is thick in substance.    -   4. ‘Blue Heaven’ exhibits very strong stems.    -   5. ‘Blue Heaven’ is hardy at least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6.        The new cultivar of Hydrangea can be compared to Hydrangea        macrophylla ‘Blaumeise’ (not patented) which is similar in        foliage characteristics, however ‘Blaumeise’ has Lacecap type        inflorescences whereas ‘Blue Heaven’ has Hortensia type        inflorescences. ‘Blue Heaven’ can also be compared to Hydrangea        macrophylla ‘Renate Steinegger’ (not patented), a cultivar with        similar flowers in form and color, however ‘Blue Heaven’ has        larger flowers, stronger stems, and thicker leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs in the figures were taken of a one year-old plant of‘Blue Heaven’ as grown outdoors in a 15 cm container in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands.

The photograph on the first sheet illustrates a plant of ‘Blue Heaven’in bloom.

The photograph of the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of afully open inflorescence and the photograph on the bottom of the secondsheet is a close-up view of a leaf of ‘Blue Heaven’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in thedetailed botanical description more accurately describe the newHydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of a one year-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown in 15 cm containers under ambient light, outdoorsin De Kwakel, The Netherlands. Phenotypic differences may be observedwith variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with the 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: ‘Blue Heaven’ is a cultivar of Hydrangea    macrophylla.-   Commercial classification: Bigleaf hydrangea. Hortensia type.-   Parentage: Hydrangea macrophylla, the exact seed and pollen parent    are unknown.-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Early spring blooming, removal of spent            blooms results in repeat bloom from early April to October            in The Netherlands.        -   Plant habit.—Broadly upright, deciduous shrub.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 45 cm in height and 30 cm            in width when mature.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 6, colder zones            have not been tested.        -   Heat tolerance.—Known to tolerate temperatures of at least            32° C.        -   Culture.—Grows best in moist but well-drained, humus-rich            soil in full sun or partial shade with protection from high            winds.        -   Diseases resistance.—No susceptibility or resistance            diseases known to effect H. macrophylla has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fine.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Time required for root development.—About 3 weeks to fully            develop in a liner as grown under greenhouse conditions at            an average temperature of 20° C.        -   Time required to produce a salable crop.—About 12 months            from propagation to a flowering plant in a 15 cm container.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Moderate, growth rate is about 12 cm            per month in spring.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Round, solid.        -   Stem strength.—Very strong.        -   Stem color.—144A to 144B.        -   Stem size.—Average of 20.6 cm (to base of inflorescence),            average of 4.5 mm in width.        -   Stem surface.—Glabrous, slightly glossy, sparsely covered            with lenticels; about 5 per square cm, about 2 mm in length            and 0.5 mm in width and 183A in color.        -   Internode length.—Average of 7.1 cm.        -   Branching.—A single dormant stem will produce an average of            4 lateral branches, sublateral branching is determined by            pinching; 2 stems develop per pinched node.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate to broadly ovate to elliptic.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 8 (4 pairs) per lateral branch.        -   Leaf base.—Obtuse.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrated.        -   Leaf venation.—Penninerved, recessed on upper surface, color            144D on upper surface and 144B on lower surface.        -   Leaf size.—Average of 11.9 cm in length and 8 cm in width.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous on upper and lower surface, slightly            glossy on upper surface.        -   Leaf color.—Young foliage upper surface; 141A to 143A, young            foliage lower surface; 144A to 146C, mature foliage upper            surface; 137A to 139A, mature foliage lower surface; 138A.        -   Petioles.—Average of 2 cm in length and 4 mm in width, 144B            in color.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal compound globous corymb of            rotate shaped flowers, about 70% of the flowers are sterile.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Persistent but color is            retained for about 4 weeks.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral or sublateral stem if            pinched.        -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 12.5 cm in height and 19.4 cm            in diameter.        -   Flower number.—Numerous, average of 143 sterile flowers and            60 fertile flowers per inflorescence.        -   Flower durability to stress.—High.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Time required to develop an inflorescence.—Approximately 9            weeks after growth emerges when container grown.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; average of 5 cm in diameter            and 2.3 cm in depth, fertile flowers; average of 1 cm in            diameter and 7 mm in depth.        -   Flower buds.—Average of 6 mm in length and 5 mm in width            prior to opening, broadly ovate in shape, 76B to 76C in            color, flowers open in about 3 days from mature bud.        -   Peduncles.—Strong, average of 6.5 cm in length and 1 mm in            width on sterile flowers and an average of 4.5 cm in length            and 0.8 mm in width on fertile flowers, held at about a 40°            angle from vertical, 145B to 145C in color, surface is            glabrous and shiny.        -   Pedicels.—Moderate strength, average of 2.2 cm in length and            4 mm in width, held at about a 15 to 20° angle from            vertical, 64D in color, surface is glabrous and shiny.        -   Calyx.—Campanulate in form, average of 3.5 cm in length and            4 mm in diameter.        -   Petals.—Average of 5, present on fertile flowers only,            rotate in arrangement, ovate in shape, entire margin, acute            apex, cuneate base, average of 1.2 mm in length and 1 mm in            width, surface is glabrous and dull on both surfaces, color            of upper and lower surface (opening and mature flowers) is            144D with apex 144B to 144C.        -   Sepals.—Average of 4 for sterile flowers, average of 5 for            fertile flowers, unfused, rotate in arrangement, glabrous            and dull surface (both surfaces), orbicular in shape on            sterile flowers, ovate in shape on fertile flowers, entire            margin, apex is acute to rounded on sterile flowers and            acute on fertile flowers, size on sterile flowers; average            of 2.6 cm in length and 2.7 cm in width, size on fertile            flowers; average of 4.6 mm in length and 2 mm in width,            color on sterile flowers when flower opens upper surface;            64C and 64B near base, color on fertile flowers when flower            opens upper surface; 76B to 76C, color on sterile flowers            when flower opens lower surface; 64D color on fertile            flowers when flower opens lower surface; 70C, color on            sterile flowers when flower is fully open upper surface;            70B, color on fertile flowers when flower is fully open            upper surface; 76B to 76C, color on sterile flowers when            flower is fully open lower surface; 70C with slightly more            reddish veins, color on fertile flowers when flower is fully            open lower surface; 70C, petals fade to a brownish color            164D.-   Reproductive organs: (fertile flowers):    -   -   Stamens.—Average of 10, anther is kidney shaped, about 1 mm            in length and 9B in color, filament is an average of 3.5 mm            in length and whiter than 155D in color, pollen is low in            quantity and 158D in color.        -   Pistils.—Average of 3, average of 2 mm in length, stigma is            club-shaped and 157A in color, style is an average of 1.2 mm            in length and 70D in color, ovary is inferior and 145D to            lighter in color.        -   Fruit and seed.—Has not been observed under the conditions            tested to date.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Blue Heaven’substantially as herein illustrated and described.